Video: The history of audio mastering

Until 1948, there was no distinction between different types of audio engineers, since everything was recorded directly onto 10-inch vinyl records that played at 78 RPM. In 1948, however, the age of the mastering engineer began when Ampex introduced its first commercial Magnetic Tape Recorder. With most recording now using magnetic tape, a transfer had to be made to a vinyl master for delivery to the pressing plant to make records. Hence the first incarnation of the mastering engineer was born, although he was called a transfer engineer at the time.

Mastering audio is the final stage in music production, where the final set of mixed songs are turned into a cohesive album through a variety of processes that make the music sound the best it can, wherever it's played. Join author and producer Bobby Owsinski in this course, as he teaches essential mastering concepts and techniques used by experienced audio engineers. Follow along as he works at Oasis Mastering, a real-world mastering facility, and learn how to apply these techniques to your home or studio setup and make your projects sound better than ever.

First, discover how to configure your monitoring setup, optimize your listening environment, and prepare and print alternative mixes that will allow you to make quick fixes during mastering. Bobby then reviews a selection of dedicated mastering tools that give you precise control over select signal parameters, from compressors to de-essers. He'll discuss the differences between mastering for CD, online distribution, and specifically for iTunes, and how to achieve the best results for each medium. The course wraps with lessons on mastering for high-resolution formats like Blu-ray, as well as delivering and archiving the master recording once the project is complete.

The history of audio mastering

Until 1948, there was no distinction between different types of audio engineers, sinceeverything was recorded directly onto 10-inch vinyl records that played at 78 RPM.In 1948, however, the age of the mastering engineer began when Ampex introduced its firstcommercial Magnetic Tape Recorder.With most recording now using magnetic tape, a transfer had to be made to a vinyl masterfor delivery to the pressing plant to make records.Hence the first incarnation of the mastering engineer was born, although he was calleda transfer engineer at the time.

There was a high degree of difficulty in this transfer process, because the level appliedto the master vinyl lacquer when cutting the grooves was so crucial. Too low a level, andyou get a noisy disc, hit it too hard, and you destroy the disc and maybe the expensive cutting stylus of the lathe too.In 1955, Ampex released SELECTIVE SYNCHRONOUS RECORDING or SEL-SYNC, which now gave the multi-trackrecorder the ability to overdub and changed the recording industry forever.At this point, there became a real distinction between the recording and mastering engineer,since the jobs now differed so greatly.

1n 1957, the stereo vinyl record became commercially available and really pushed the industry towhat many say was the best sounding audio ever.Mastering engineers were now known as cutters found ways to make the disc louder, and asa result less noisy by applying equalization and compression.Producers and artists began to take notice that certain records would actually soundlouder on the radio, and if it played louder, then the listeners usually thought it soundedbetter, and maybe the disc sold better as a result.Hence, a new breed of mastering engineer was born.

This one with some creative control and ability to influence the final sound of a record,rather than just being a transfer jock from medium to medium.An interesting distinction between American and British mastering engineers developed, though.In the US, mastering was and still it considered the final step in the creation of an album,while in the UK they look at it as the first step in manufacturing.As a result, American mastering engineers tend to have much more creative leeway andwhat they are allowed to do to the audio than British engineers.

With the introduction of the CD in 1982, the cutting engineer was now finally known asa mastering engineer was forced into the digital age using a modified video tape recorder calledthe Sony 1630 to deliver a digital CD master to the replicator, but still utilizing manyof the analog tools from the vinyl past from EQ and compression.The 1989 introduction of the Sonic Solutions Digital Audio Workstation with pre-masteringsoftware provided a CD master instead of a bulky 1630.

Now mastering began to evolve into the digital state as we know it today.In the first half of 1995, MP3s began to spread on the Internet and their small file sizeset about revolution in the music industry that continues to this day.This meant that the mastering engineer had to become well versed in how to get the mostfrom this format, something that took many mastering engineers years to get the hang of.In 1999 5.1 surround sound and high-resolution audio took the mastering engineer into a newuncharted but highly creative territory. And by 2002 most all mastering engineers werewell acquainted with the computer, since virtually every single project was edited and manipulatedin a digital audio workstation.

Today's mastering engineer doesn't practice the black art of disc cutting much, but heis no less the wizard, as he continues to shape and mold a project like never before.

Learn by watching, listening, and doing, Exercise files are the same files the author uses in the course, so you can download them and follow along Premium memberships include access to all exercise files in the library.

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Learn by watching, listening, and doing! Exercise files are the same files the author uses in the course, so you can download them and follow along. Exercise files are available with all Premium memberships.
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